Dave Kuban, the owner of Planet Pizza, in his store on Main Avenue Thursday, November 30, 2017, in Norwalk, Conn, Kuban is hosting a toy drive for the Department of Children and Families for the second year running. Local businesses from the area have joined in the effort to help provide children at the shelter with something to unwrap on Christmas day less

Dave Kuban, the owner of Planet Pizza, in his store on Main Avenue Thursday, November 30, 2017, in Norwalk, Conn, Kuban is hosting a toy drive for the Department of Children and Families for the second year ... more

Photo: Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Dave Kuban, the owner of Planet Pizza, in his store on Main Avenue Thursday, November 30, 2017, in Norwalk, Conn, Kuban is hosting a toy drive for the Department of Children and Families for the second year running. Local businesses from the area have joined in the effort to help provide children at the shelter with something to unwrap on Christmas day less

Dave Kuban, the owner of Planet Pizza, in his store on Main Avenue Thursday, November 30, 2017, in Norwalk, Conn, Kuban is hosting a toy drive for the Department of Children and Families for the second year ... more

Photo: Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 3 of 4

Dave Kuban, the owner of Planet Pizza, in his store on Main Avenue Thursday, November 30, 2017, in Norwalk, Conn, Kuban is hosting a toy drive for the Department of Children and Families for the second year running. Local businesses from the area have joined in the effort to help provide children at the shelter with something to unwrap on Christmas day less

Dave Kuban, the owner of Planet Pizza, in his store on Main Avenue Thursday, November 30, 2017, in Norwalk, Conn, Kuban is hosting a toy drive for the Department of Children and Families for the second year ... more

Photo: Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media

Image 4 of 4

Toy Drive for neglected kids under way

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NORWALK — Toy trucks, basketballs and board games could be seen piled up on tables through the storefront of the Pizza Planet on Main Avenue on Thursday afternoon. A Grinch overlooking a Christmas tree circled with children was painted on one side of the pizzeria’s glass window. On the other side was a message painted in colorful letters: “Toy and Clothing Drive, Deadline Dec. 15th.”

With the holidays just around the corner, the pizzeria is working to raise toys for the Children’s Bank of Norwalk.

Owner Dave Kuban said the drive began last year at the suggestion from a customer.

“I said, ‘All right, I’ll do it,’” Kuban recalled. He reached out to State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff for suggestions on places that needed toy donations and was pointed to Children’s Connection, a Human Services Council program.

“Every single year, I get nervous that we won’t meet the demand,” said Kari Pesavento, the director of Children’s Connection, which has run the Children’s Bank toy drive for over 20 years. She said that every year, the bank provides toys for roughly 3,000 kids throughout Fairfield County who referred to the Department of Children and Families for suspected abuse or neglect.

“It’s a big undertaking, and there’s no way we could do it without people having fun with this and lending a hand.”

Last year, Kuban said two pickup trucks full of toys were donated to the pizzeria.

“This year, we’ve already have twice that.”

Kuban said he’s been surprised at how much support has turned out from local people and businesses. Jay Piccirillo, the owner of Micalizzi’s Italian Ice, stopped by the store Wednesday night with half a dozen friends, who each brought a handful of toys. The message spread through social media — Sonny Passaro saw Piccirillo post about it and brought in a batch of remote-controlled cars, and the owner of Mobile Rescue Tech Repair brought in 3,000 fidget spinners.

“All of the people who have a local place in Norwalk, they’re coming through,” Kuban said.

Anyone interested in participating can drop off gifts at 607 Main Ave. between 9 a.m. and midnight until Dec. 15.

“Or if you need them picked up, we can pick them up,” said Kuban, explaining that the pizza delivery driver had already picked up toys from a senior home that had called in. Planet Pizza can be reached at 203-846-8600.

Pesavento said that popular requests this year have included art kits, drawing pads and Star Wars toys. Gift cards for stores such as Walmart, Kohl’s and Best Buys are popular with teenagers, who are often overlooked in toy drives.

And while the biggest drives happen in early December, gifts are accepted year round. Children’s Connection continues to receive names of children who need gifts after Christmas, and they also use gifts throughout the years for birthdays and other special occasions.

Those interested in sponsoring an individual wish or finding out more about the program can call the Human Services Council at 203-849-1111.